Desert Local News Sunday Paper February 5, 2023 issue!

PALESTINIANS CELEBRATE TERROR ATTACK

JERUSALEM

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“Star Evangelicals Break With Trump

Dead

45 PAGE

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Google Parent Alphabet to Cut 12000 Jobs

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, announced today that it will cut 12,000 jobs. These layoffs are expected to affect approximately 6 percent of its global workforce. The reductions will come from a review of its people and priorities.

In an email to employees, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai explained that the company has had to make some tough choices. He said the tech giant is facing competition from other companies and has had to change its strategies. But he also cited the changing economic reality for the cuts.

As part of its severance package, Alphabet will offer health care and immigration support for affected US employees. In addition, workers who are laid off will be eligible for 16 weeks of severance pay and paid vacations and bonuses. Depending on local laws, compensation for workers overseas will vary.

In addition, the company will offer additional support services such as job placement, immigration support, and medical and dental care. It has also committed to paying all outstanding 2022 bonuses and offering employees new vacation time.

While Google’s advertising business remains its most important source of revenue, the company is struggling to sell ads. Many companies are buying fewer ads on YouTube and Google’s search engines. This has dragged down the bottom line, and Pichai said he would make changes to curb expenses.

According to the company’s earnings report released in October, Alphabet’s profit fell 27 percent. That comes from a disappointing third-quarter performance; analysts expect net income to drop by 25 percent this year.

Despite its recent moves, Alphabet is still one of the largest technology firms in the world, with nearly 187,000 employees. Even so, the firm faces pressure from consumers and businesses cutting budgets. And it is under attack from competitors, notably Microsoft.

Alphabet is the latest in a wave of tech firms to announce massive job cuts. Over the past year, Alphabet’s stock has fallen by more than 30 percent. The firm’s shares have tracked the downturn in the broader tech industry, which has seen a 24 percent slump.

Alphabet’s cloud computing unit continues to trail rival Amazon, but it is trying to develop a second sales line. Last quarter, Alphabet’s cloud division brought in six billion dollars, but it remains behind the market leader.

Alphabet’s layoffs will affect roles and responsibilities in product areas, engineering, and geographies. Employ-

See JOBS on page 10

Warns US Could Default On Its Debt As Soon As June

Treasury secretary Janet Yellen on Friday notified Congress that the U.S. would reach its statutory debt limit next Thursday. As a result, it is kicking off a potentially historic battle over its debt ceiling. While the U.S. government is currently well under the $32.4 trillion limit on borrowing set in December 2021, a failure to raise the debt limit could trigger an emergency, causing turmoil in the financial markets and a potential default on the nation’s debt. The Treasury secretary’s letter is a significant milestone in what is expected to be the most contentious debt limit battle in history, as Republicans will demand massive spending cuts from the federal budget in exchange for an increase in the debt ceiling.

Yellen’s letter officially kicked off what’s expected to be the most contentious debt ceiling battle in history. The United States could face its first credit default in history if it fails to raise its debt limit before the deadline in June. This would damage the country’s economy and threaten global financial stability, according to the letter sent to lawmakers by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday.

The United States has been close to its debt limit for the last several months, and the situation is expected to worsen shortly. The debt ceiling is a legal cap on the total amount of money the federal government can borrow through Treasury securities.

In the letter, Yellen said the Treasury Department would take “extraordinary measures” to avoid a default. These measures include suspending reinvestment in certain government retirement funds and paying bills

on time.

While many analysts say the chances of a default are low, it’s still possible that the government will miss a payment. If it does, it may affect the nation’s credit rating, putting lending products such as mortgages at risk. It also can mean a government shutdown, which could halt critical services.

In addition to the monetary dangers, the debt ceiling could also create a political crisis. Republicans have pledged not to support a debt limit increase and have vowed to im-

pose significant spending cuts during negotiations.

Democrats, however, have been one party in Washington for the past two years and could be forced to deal with a divided Capitol. They have a two-vote advantage in the Senate, but the House is now under Republican control.

Regardless of what happens, a debt limit dispute will be protracted. A failure to increase or suspend the debt ceiling could

See DEBT on page 7

Is Southern California Gas Gauging Their Customers To Profit Sempra?

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the rise in gas prices. As a result, the California Energy Commission recently announced that natural gas prices are expected to increase throughout the state, including in Southern California.

“Consumer Watchdog Calls for Investigation Into So Cal Gas Natural Price Spikes; Points to Evidence Utility Colluded with Parent Company Sempra To Drive Up Price On Customers”

“Southern California Gas’s curious failure to plan for winter left its customers with huge bills and its parent company SEMPA and its gas trading subsidiaries with huge profits,” said Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog. “The company owes the public answers, and it is up to our public prosecutors to ask the key questions on their behalf.”

The consumer group wrote the doubling of natural gas prices is unique to California and that So Cal Gas “has purchased gas at unreasonably high prices, with higher profits for So Cal Gas’s parent company SEMPRA, which sells natural gas to So Cal Gas through its other subsidiaries. We believe So

Cal Gas’s conduct in implementing natural gas rate hikes may constitute an unfair business practice, and we are calling upon you to investigate.”

“Southern California Gas doubled consumers’ natural gas bills with virtually no notice, leaving its customers with large, unexpected bills,” the letter continued. “They are now forced to choose between paying their utility bills and their rent, food costs, and other monthly obligations with no warning.”

The letter asks the prosecutors to investigate the following issues:

Did So Cal Gas fail to notify its customers promptly to drive up natural gas sales for SEMPRA’s subsidiaries? Without adequate notice, customers would use more gas, and SEMPRA subsidiaries would make more money.

Does So Cal Gas have a duty to acknowledge its financial relationship with SEMPRA and its other subsidiaries as sellers of natural gas to the utility? How much did SEMPRA profit from selling gas to So Cal Gas at increased costs?

What role did SEMPRA and its subsidiaries play in doubling natural gas prices on

the West Coast? Natural gas prices in the East are significantly less than West Coast prices. Did SEMPRA deplete inventories to drive up the price on the West Coast, knowing it had a guaranteed market for higher price gas from its subsidiary utilities?

What role did SoCal gas play in its customers’ scarcity of natural gas? Evidence shows that So Cal gas did not adequately purchase gas for the 2022 – 2023 season. Ordinarily, the utility would buy, transport and store ahead of the season to plan for winter surges. This failure of planning created conditions where it had to buy from its parent company SEMPRA’s subsidiaries, on the spot market at twice the regular price, passing the costs on to its customers.

The California Air Resources Board has also warned of high prices and has said that prices will continue to climb through 2030. At the same time, the state’s Public Advocate’s office is urging the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to investigate why there are such sudden price spikes in the natural gas market. They suggest the PUC issue consumer credits and automatic enrollment in COVID-19-type

See GAUGING on page 7

Robert “Bigo” Barnett Will Have To Pay For His Actions!

The U.S. man was part of the brutal crowd storming the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. “Bigo” (62) and hundreds of like-minded people smashed doors and windows to take the building. Riots broke out, and politicians and policemen’s lives were in danger. Five people died at the time, and the inconceivable acts also caused horror in Germany. Since then, police have arrested 940 people whose involvement is being investigated.

Some suspects deny their actions or talk them down - this is impossible for Barnett. He was photographed rifling through the desk of Nancy Pelosi, 82. The Democrat was the leader of the House of Representatives at the time, making her the third most important person in

the U.S. government.

Barnett told journalists that he left Pelosi a note. It allegedly read, “Nancy, Bigo was here, you bitch.” An inconceivable insolence! Moreover, the Arkansas man sat in Pelosi’s office chair and placed one foot on her desk. Barnett was armed with a stun gun and a walking stick and became one of the faces of the congressional attack.

Incredibly, Barnett tried to talk his way out of it in court last week. First, he claimed he was looking for a restroom, then accidentally ended up in Pelosi’s office. Next, a press photographer allegedly told him to “act natural,” After that, he put his foot down.

Two days after storming the Capitol, he was arrested and put behind bars for about four months. On Monday, jurors found Barnett guilty on eight charges. Among them were obstructing an official proceeding and entering an official building with a dangerous or deadly weapon.

After the verdict, Barnett’s attorney said his client did not receive a fair trial. Sentencing is to be announced in early May. Prosecutors said the former firefighter could face up to 47 years in prison.

Evangelicals Break With Trump - He Says He is Breaking Up With Them First

During President Donald Trump’s first four years in office, white evangelicals grappled with an identity crisis. As several high-profile evangelical leaders quietly ditch Trump going into the 2024 presidential cycle, Trump slams the religious right for being “disloyal” and failing to fight hard enough in the midterms.

The Christian Right has supported him, and his policies have benefited many Christians, but the moral character of his administration has been questioned. Among other things, President Trump has appointed three conservative Supreme Court justices.

White evangelicals are also divided

over whether or not Trump is a religious leader or a politician. There has been plenty of debate over the President’s sexual behavior. He has also made a few controversial remarks. Some have argued that his sexually aggressive comments on a leaked tape were not a Christian edi-

See TRUMP on page 6

Elected Officials Block Student Loan Debt Relief

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the rise in gas prices. As a result, the California Energy Commission recently announced that natural gas prices are expected to increase throughout the state, including in Southern California.

“Consumer Watchdog Calls for Investigation Into So Cal Gas Natural Price Spikes; Points to Evidence Utility Colluded with Parent Company Sempra To Drive Up Price On Customers”

“Southern California Gas’s curious failure to plan for winter left its customers with huge bills and its parent company SEMPA and its gas trading subsidiaries with huge profits,” said Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog. “The company owes the public answers, and it is up to our public prosecutors to ask the key questions on their behalf.”

The consumer group wrote the doubling of natural gas prices is unique to California and that So Cal Gas “has purchased gas at unreasonably high prices, with higher profits for So Cal Gas’s parent company SEMPRA, which sells natural gas to So Cal Gas through its other subsidiaries. We believe So Cal Gas’s conduct in implementing natural gas rate hikes may constitute an unfair business practice, and we are calling upon you to investigate.”

“Southern California Gas doubled consumers’ natural gas bills with virtually no no-

tice, leaving its customers with large, unexpected bills,” the letter continued. “They are now forced to choose between paying their utility bills and their rent, food costs, and other monthly obligations with no warning.”

The letter asks the prosecutors to investigate the following issues:

Did So Cal Gas fail to notify its customers promptly to drive up natural gas sales for SEMPRA’s subsidiaries? Without adequate

notice, customers would use more gas, and SEMPRA subsidiaries would make more money.

Does So Cal Gas have a duty to acknowl-

See LOAN RELIEF on page 6

BBB Scam Alert: How Social Security recipients can stay alert to cost of living adjustment scam

gained access to your most sensitive personal information, making you susceptible to identity theft. If you give up your banking information, they may even be able to gain access to your money.

How to avoid Social Security scams

• Remember, the SSA’s COLA is automatic. You don’t need to do anything to receive the increase in benefits. If someone tells you otherwise, you’re likely dealing with a scammer.

• Know how the SSA communicates. According to SSA, “If there is a problem with your Social Security number, we will mail you a letter. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us.” Therefore, a call, text, or email from an SSA agent out of the blue is a red flag.

• Don’t give in to threats. SSA will never threaten you with arrest or legal action. They will never suspend your Social Security number or demand payment from you. They will never ask for personal information or banking details to give you an increase in benefits. If someone demands these things or threatens you over the phone, they are not with SSA.

Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) approves a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for recipients of Social Security benefits and Supplementary Security Income (SSI). Due to inflation, payments can increase by 8.7% this year. It’s a significant increase – the highest COLA approved in more than 40 years – and scammers are taking advantage. If you or a loved one re-

ceive Social Security benefits, stay alert to the signs of a scam.

How the scam works

Scammers contact you by phone, text, or email. This “Social Security Administration representative” claims you must apply for your cost-of-living increase. They might ask you to visit a website, send information via text or email, or speak with them on the

phone to get the benefit. The scammer will ask you to verify your identity by sharing personal details, such as your full name, address, or Social Security number. They may even ask for your bank account information, claiming that the representative will deposit the extra money directly into your account.

In any case, if you give your information to the person in question, they will have

• When in doubt, hang up. If you suspect you might be getting scammed, stop all communications. Instead, visit Medicare. gov to research or call 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm that the correspondence is legitimate before taking action.

For more info and more scams alert from the Better Business Bureau: https://bbb.org

Palestinians Celebrate Terror Attack In Jerusalem

Barbaric rejoicing over dead Jews

One of the worst attacks in years is a terrorist attack in Jerusalem on Friday evening. Israeli police said seven people were killed five men and two women. There are also other injuries - including a 15-year-old boy.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry had previously spoken of eight dead and ten injured. However, it may have initially counted the shot assassin (21) among the victims.

According to the Times of Israel, the man from East Jerusalem opened fire near a synagogue at around 8:15 p.m. He caused a bloodbath, then fled toward a nearby Palestinian neighborhood.

On the run, he met police officers - they shot the terrorist.

“I heard a lot of shots,” said student Matanel Almalem (18), who lives near the synagogue. After the attack, police examined a white car that authorities said belonged to the attacker. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (73) and Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (46) visited the crime scene.

Horrid scenes erupted shortly after the attack: Dozens of Palestinians gathered in several places in the Gaza Strip for spontaneous demonstrations to celebrate the attack. Sweets were also distributed. Similar jubilation celebrations were reported from the West Bank city of Ramallah. Fireworks were set off in some places, and people rose in joy.

They cheered over dead Jews!

Israel’s Defense Minister Jo’aw Galant (64) promised after the attack: “The defense apparatus under my leadership will take tough and uncompromising action against terrorism and find everyone involved in the attack.” US President Joe Biden (80) instructed his team to assist Israel. The United Na-

MISS USA

FROM PAGE 1

January 14. During the competition, 80 women from around the world competed for the crown. Runner-ups included Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel and Miss Dominican Republic Andreina Martinez. After the eliminations narrowed down the number of contestants, R’Bonney was selected as the winner. A $250,000 prize was awarded to her.

Gabriel has spent the last few months preparing for the upcoming competition. Gabriel started sewing at age 15, and she is an eco-friendly fashion designer. She uses recycled fabrics and repurposed post-consumer materials for her clothing line. R’Bonney studied fashion design at the University of North Texas. Currently, she is the CEO of her sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola. When she isn’t busy with the pageant, she’s working with Magpies and Peacocks, a nonprofit design house that recycles waste and repurposes textiles.

Her mission is to encourage young girls to “own” themselves, and she wants to use her platform to open the door for more diversity in society. She is also an advocate for climate change.

She is a former high school volleyball player. Her costume for the pageant was a

tions strongly condemned the attack. “It is particularly despicable that the attack took place in a religious place and on the very day we commemorate the Holocaust,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres (73) on Friday (local time) in New York, according to the statement. “There is never an excuse for acts of terrorism. They must be clearly condemned and rejected by everyone.”

Guterres said he was concerned about the escalation of violence in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. “Now is the moment to exercise the utmost restraint.”

The USA also sharply condemned the attack and pledged its support. US President Joe Biden offered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “all reasonable means of support” in a telephone conversation, the White House said on Friday.

Situation tense for days

A spokesman for the terror group Hamas justified the attack as “retaliation” for a raid by the Israeli army in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. Nine people were killed on Thursday.

Background: The Israeli army recently

carried out more raids after a series of attacks. The goal: to smash militant networks. According to the Israeli army, Thursday’s raid was used to arrest members of the Islamic Jihad terrorist group. Instead, the soldiers came under fire and then shot several fighters. At least seven rockets were fired from Gaza on Friday night. But, according to the Israeli military, both missiles were intercepted and rendered harmless by the high-tech “Iron Dome” defense system. Israel then launched attacks on a production site for Hamas rockets.

“Woman on the Moon” suit, which represented Houston’s space credentials as home to the NASA Johnson Space Center. She wore a blue and red bodysuit with silver stars and a huge silver moon crown.

R’Bonney has a Filipino father and an American mother. According to the Miss

Universe website, she is a fashion designer, model, and high school volleyball player. In addition, she has a minor in fiber from the University of Texas. As a model, she’s been featured in Vogue Philippines, and she’s also a certified Pilates trainer.

Since she was a child, she has been a

vegetarian. She loves animals and is an accomplished dancer. For her competition, she’s wearing a crystal-studded black gown. She is also a hula hooper and backpacker. In addition, she’s a big reader and likes to backpack. Ultimately, she hopes to be a transformational leader.

According to Israeli authorities, the terrorist fled the scene in this car

Authorities Warn Against TikTok’s “Clonazepam Challenge”

The winner of the challenge, as the name suggests, is the one who falls asleep last. That’s because one side effect of clonazepam is severe drowsiness.

Other side effects: Drowsiness, faintness, decreased muscle tone, muscle weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, impaired balance, and prolonged reaction time.

Paramedics had to treat five underage students participating in the challenge at a school in Mexico City, according to authorities. Three more cases were reported in the northern state of Nuevo Leon.

The viral dare has also occurred in other Mexican states since early January. On January 9, seven students in Veracruz were also “slightly poisoned” after consuming clonazepam, according to emergency medical services.

According to the police report, the teenagers had 30 clonazepam pills. A spokesman announced a detailed investigation of the case. Above all, he said, it is interesting how the students got hold of the pills.

In Mexico, more and more teenagers are taking part in a dangerous TikTok challenge - now authorities are stepping in and urgently warning parents against the trend.

LOAN RELIEF

FROM PAGE 2

edge its financial relationship with SEMPRA and its other subsidiaries as sellers of natural gas to the utility? How much did SEMPRA profit from selling gas to So Cal Gas at increased costs?

What role did SEMPRA and its subsidiaries play in doubling natural gas prices on the West Coast? Natural gas prices in the East are significantly less than West Coast prices. Did SEMPRA deplete inventories to drive up the price on the West Coast, knowing it had a guaranteed market for higher price gas from its subsidiary utilities?

What role did SoCal gas play in its customers’ scarcity of natural gas? Evidence shows that So Cal gas did not adequately purchase gas for the 2022 – 2023 season. Ordinarily, the utility would buy, transport and store ahead of the season to plan for winter surges. This failure of planning created conditions where it had to buy from its parent

TRUMP

FROM PAGE 2

fice. In contrast, others have argued that they are a defining feature of a modern-day “Godly Businessman.”

Historically, evangelicals have had a vested interest in electing the right candidate to the office of President. While Trump has sparked debate over his nativism, his campaign has provided a window into how the religious community has changed over the past few decades.

Typically, evangelicals vote for a Repub-

The whole thing is called the “Clonazepam Challenge” or “Last one to fall asleep wins.” It involves teenagers bringing the drug clonazepam, customarily used to treat epilep-

tic seizures, to school. Then, before class, the students take the drug - and try to stay awake as long as possible.

Users had recently posted several videos on TikTok in which they had filmed themselves after taking the drug. Other users posted videos warning of the health risks associated with it.

company SEMPRA’s subsidiaries, on the spot market at twice the regular price, passing the costs on to its customers.

The California Air Resources Board has

lican presidential nominee. A recent poll of evangelical voters found that nearly seventy percent of evangelicals supported Donald Trump in the 2016 election. However, a recent survey by Pew Research Center found that a plurality of evangelicals felt President Trump’s administration had aided their interests.

Traditionally, evangelicalism is defined by four fundamental tenets: a belief in the spiritual authority of the Bible; an outworking of the faith in social-reform efforts; a commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ; and a desire for a spiritual rebirth. Despite its name, evangelicalism is not a centralized religion, with members of the movement spread throughout the nation. In fact, between a quarter and a third of evangelicals

also warned of high prices and has said that prices will continue to climb through 2030. At the same time, the state’s Public Advocate’s office is urging the Public Utilities Commis-

are non-white.

Evangelicals have been criticized for several reasons, including their tendency to support candidates that align with the Christian Right. As a result, they have been accused of ignoring the merits of their beliefs. But a number of thoughtful Christians have offered alternative approaches to evangelism that are more inclusive and egalitarian.

While evangelicals have traditionally favored the Republican Party, Trump’s campaign has led to a growing division among the religious community. For example, a deacon from a church in New England left the congregation because the pastor did not make an effort to encourage his followers to vote for the President. Other evangelicals have complained that Trump has “used” them.

sion (PUC) to investigate why there are such sudden price spikes in the natural gas market. They suggest the PUC issue consumer credits and automatic enrollment in COVID-19-type

Evangelicals are split along generational lines. Generally, younger people are attracted to issues that older evangelicals are not as interested in. This is true of women and gay rights. One of the best-known evangelicals, Franklin Graham, has disparaged Islam and gay marriage and has pushed for a pro-life stance.

The National Association of Evangelicals is the largest umbrella organization for evangelicals. It represents millions of members in 45,000 churches from 40 denominations. Robert Jeffress, a well-known evangelical, says he would support Donald Trump again if he were nominated for the presidency. Although the evangelical community is still split on the issue, it is clear that Trump has a lot of flaws.

Screenshot shows Mexican students doing the “last one to fall asleep wins” challenge during a school lesson

GAUGING

director and energy futures strategist based in New Jersey at investment firm Mizuho Securities.”

Regional and national markets determine the wholesale price of natural gas that SoCalGas uses. For example, most of the gas used in California comes from Wyoming, but the company buys supplies from New Mexico and parts of Canada.

Your friendly SoCalGas Newsroom: “A Note to Our Customers: High Bills May Come as a Shock in January, But We Have Some Tips and Tools to Help You SaveMarket conditions caused natural gas rates to increase 128% since December.”

relief payment plans help consumers avoid being caught up in a rate hike.

The sudden spike in natural gas prices has been blamed on the cold snap and supply constraints. Although SoCalGas typically purchases gas before the winter season, it failed to do so. Instead, they had to buy gas on the spot market, which meant they had to pass the cost to customers.

What an irony: “But in many other parts of the country, natural gas futures prices have plunged, with traders Friday seeing a 17-month low at Henry Hub, a Louisiana natural gas pipeline that serves as the benchmark for the North American natural gas market on the New York Mercantile Exchange. “It’s the exact opposite of what’s happening in California today,” said Robert Yawger, managing

DEBT

FROM PAGE 2

lead to a debt default and a government shutdown. That could lead to a recession and put millions of Americans out of work.

As the deadline for paying the debt approaches, the Treasury Department is taking “extraordinary measures” to avoid a debt default. Those measures are designed to free up the government’s borrowing capacity.

Uncertainty over the debt limit in 2023 could lead to volatility in financial markets.

The debt limit is a hot topic on Wall Street and the White House. Both parties have spent countless hours wrangling over the latest bill and are preparing for the inevitable showdown. Hopefully, they will make the best possible deal. If they can’t, the next few years may be a nightmare.

It’s a shame that the debate is a drag on the economy. A new deficit has been imposed on the government, and there is a good chance that the federal government will run out of cash before the end of the year. On the upside, Congress has put a number on the debt limit, which could allow the federal government to borrow until late February or early March. Of course, this is the time of year when partisan bickering tends to make matters worse. But the government has a couple of tricks up its sleeve.

Among the first things to be tackled are Medicare and Social Security. However, the most critical piece of legislation is the debt limit. This is a big deal in a recessionary economy. For several reasons, Congress has been reluctant to raise the ceiling. One reason is that the Treasury Department has about $500 billion in excess reserves to draw on until the federal government runs out of cash. In

SoCalGas has offered several ways for customers to save money. For example, they are offering $100 rebates on energy-efficient appliances. Another way to save is to lower your thermostat by three to five degrees. Water heaters, too, can be reduced by a few degrees. Other suggestions include not using gas-powered fireplaces, washing clothes in cold water, and adequately weather-stripping your home. These tips can save up to 10% on heating costs.

According to SoCalGas, the company is gauging customers for a spike in bills in January. If it comes true, the average household bill will triple its current amount. While there is no reason for customers to pay higher rates, the company needs to be transparent about its finances.

The company also promotes a “Ways to

addition, Congress can take a few “extraordinary measures” to soothe the jitters. As a result, the debate above will only rage for a short time.

House Republicans are demanding significant spending cuts to the federal budget in exchange for raising the debt limit, but it could lead to a partial shutdown later this year. The White House has rejected this idea, saying it would be “hostage taking.”

Several measures are expected to reduce the federal budget by about 5-15 percent. They will reportedly include a reintroduction of the “Cut As You Go” rule, which requires equal reductions in mandatory and discretionary spending.

Another measure is the “YouCut” initiative, which allows the public to weigh in online on federal spending programs. Some measures include eliminating a requirement for the Government Printing Office to print hard copies of all bills, saving printing costs.

On Friday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) invited President Biden — who promptly accepted — to deliver his annual State of the Union address on Feb. 7. The House also plans to pass a continuing resolution before that deadline. In addition, the House will likely vote on a non-security discretionary spending bill before the State of the Union Speech.

It is a safe bet that the House will use the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip, which is a logical move. However, if Democrats disagree with the proposed cuts, the GOP will almost certainly be forced to default.

In a related development, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will publish a report on the debt ceiling this month. This report will include a forecast for when the government will run out of extraordinary measures.

Although the CBO’s report will be ready early next month, many congressional leaders

Save” tab for its customers. In the past, it has given out $1 million to the Gas Assistance Fund, a program for low-income families.

Customers can access the SoCalGas website to learn how to save money on their utility bills. In addition, several programs are available, including the Residential Advanced Clean Energy Program, which offers free energy assessments and the installation of energy technologies. The company also has an assistance fund that gives qualifying applicants a one-time grant of $100.

Source: Consumer Watchdog

Effective January 1, 2023, the procurement component of the core sales rate will increase from 239.563 ¢/therm to 344.892 ¢/

have announced they plan to introduce a spending-cutting measure to raise the debt limit. The GOP has a track record of challenging budget demands when controlling the House.

Meanwhile, Democrats have resisted allowing the GOP to raise the debt limit without a cut, arguing that a default would create disastrous consequences. Unlike past showdowns, however, this time, there is a real threat to the nation’s credit, and it appears that the White House will hold out for a deal.

If the United States defaults on its financial obligations, then it will have a devastating impact on the nation’s economy. As a result, the Treasury Department is implementing extraordinary measures to help keep the government operating. They are designed to extend the time the government can spend paying its bills.

While the debt limit is set by law, Congress can raise it. Depending on political trends, the debate over raising the debt ceiling can be a highly contentious process. It is important to remember that the federal government is not permitted to issue any new debt once the debt limit has been reached.

When the Treasury Department runs up against the limit, it uses a variety of accounting maneuvers to preserve its borrowing capacity. These tactics include using money set aside to manage exchange rate fluctuations and borrowing from other sources.

Since the debt limit was set in 1985, the Treasury has used these “extraordinary measures” sixteen times. Some of the measures include suspending the reinvestment of the Government Securities Investment Fund and redeeming existing investments. In addition to these measures, the department has temporarily halted contributions to some federal

therm. This increase resulted from an overall 270.869 ¢/therm increase in commodity price and a decrease of 31.306 ¢/therm in account adjustments. As a result, compared to a year ago, the procurement rate is about 312.7% higher (83.569 ¢/therm) than it was effective January 2022.

Editors note: Sempra Declares Quarterly Dividend, Payable January 15, 2023

Sempra announced that its board of directors has declared a $1.145 per share quarterly dividend on the company’s common stock, payable January 15, 2023, to common stock shareholders of record at the close of business on December 22, 2022.

pension funds.

If the debt ceiling is not raised, the Treasury will be forced to default on its financial obligations. This would increase the cost of borrowing and cause markets to be nervous. As a result, markets would demand higher interest rates to reflect the increased risk of a debt default.

Because the United States will not be able to issue new debt once the debt limit has been reached, the only way to avoid a debt default is to pass legislation. However, this is a highly protracted process. As a result, complicated negotiations could lead to a delay and inability to agree on legislation.

The Treasury’s use of extraordinary measures is expected to last through the end of August. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this will allow the department to continue paying its obligations through the beginning of next year.

Treasury secretary Janet Yellen

(†45)

No one recognized her in her greatest role

She was a gentle heroine; in front of the camera, she thrilled as a cruel alien ruler.

On Sunday morning, series star Anne Wersching passed away at age 45. This was reported by the website Deadline. The US actress succumbed to cancer. She received the diagnosis in 2020 - what kind of cancer it was is unknown.

Wersching starred in some of the most successful TV series in recent years, including “24,” “Castle,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Boston Legal,” “Dallas,” “Charmed,” and “CSI.” However, the role that demanded the most from her was that of the Borg Queen in the second season of the hit series “Star Trek: Picard.”

For the series, the redhaired beauty with delicate facial features transformed herself into the inhuman antagonist of the “Star Trek” crew through elaborate makeup. And in the process, she’s barely recognizable.

No wonder because although the fictional species of the Borg has outward similarities to humans, the members of

Hardly recognizable: Annie Wersching as the Borg queen.

the power-hungry race seem, above all, like a mixture of robots and aliens. Annie Wersching also looked eerily alien as the Borg Queen, with blue-veined, pale skin, a wired skull, and visible mechanical implants.

But what made this role perhaps one of the toughest of her life wasn’t the costuming, for which she had to spend hours in makeup.

By the time filming began on the new season of the space adventure in 2021, Annie Wersching had already been diagnosed with cancer. Then, in 2020, she received a devastating diagnosis. Nevertheless, the mother of three children did not give up but played the Borg queen as planned and to the delight of “Star Trek” fans with unbroken intensity.

“Star Trek” colleague mourns the loss of Wersching

Wersching’s “Star Trek” co-star Jeri Ryan (54, rose to fame as Seven of Nine in the television series “Star Trek: Starship Voyager”) bid farewell to her co-star on Instagram with touching words.

She wrote in a photo showing both of them in space gear: “What a beautiful, shining light we lost today. I was lucky enough to work and play with the

extraordinary Annie Wersching. My heart goes to her wonderful family and all who were lucky to know her. (...) Rest in peace, beautiful Annie.”

Kiefer Sutherland weeps for his girlfriend.

Among Wersching’s best-known roles is that of Renee Walker in the hit series “24.” She appeared in 35 episodes alongside actor Kiefer Sutherland, 56.

The actor wrote on Twitter on Monday: “The world has lost a light today. Annie Wersching was one of the greatest actresses I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. And she was my friend. (...) May she be remembered for the wonderful person she was.”

Wersching is survived by her husband, actor Stephen Full (53), and three children (ages 12, 9, and 4).

Wiersching and Kiefer Sutherland in an episode of the cult series “24

Friends and series colleagues: Annie Wersching (l.) with “Star Trek” icon Jeri Ryan.

Parents And Students Complained

TRANS TEACHER TO STOP WEARING GIANT BREASTS.

Teacher Kayla Lemieux’s breasts are becoming a political issue! Parents and students of Trafalgar High School in Oakville (Canada) had complained about the trans woman because she wears huge breast prostheses in class. Now they are to be forbidden by her. That’s because the school board, under pressure from Ontario’s education minister, has ordered staff to develop a dress code that meets “professional standards.”

“I believe our fundamental position is that staff must meet the highest standards when they are in front of children,” Minister Stephen Lecce said back in December. However, several parents and students believe Lemieux does not. Her giant prostheses, with their clearly accentuated nipples, would “mock women and the educational experience,” they said in letters of complaint. Others worried that the prostheses would be a safety hazard when working.

Kayla Lemieux still needs to comment.

Trans woman targeted by a bomb threat

After pictures of Lemieux first surfaced on the Internet last September, the trans woman was quickly targeted by culture warriors. Then, in November, there were two bomb threats at her school.

“We have several bombs spread throughout the school, and we will not sit idly by while this woke ideology destroys all of Western society,” one threatening email read, according to the Toronto Sun.

Why Is Insulin Costing So Much In The Usa?

Insulin is a lifesaving drug. This synthetic medicine is produced by bacteria or yeast and helps regulate blood sugar levels. When the sugar levels in the blood decrease, insulin releases stored sugar in the liver. The pancreas produces several hormones. Beta cells, which are specialized in the body, produce insulin. When blood sugar level increases, the beta cells release insulin into the blood. Glucose is the primary source of energy for most cells. If there is not enough insulin, the cells will die.

In the past few years, insulin costs have increased significantly. For example, one 20-milliliter vial of insulin can cost over $1,500 today. That’s more than twice the price it used to be 15 years ago.

Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi are the leading insulin producers in the U.S. Each company has its own program to help patients lower their prices. For example, Novo Nordisk is offering the the$99Insulin program, which provides patients two packs of FlexPen/FlexTouch for

See INSULIN on page 12

dressed as a woman with giant breasts. He called for members to resign before a police officer threw him out of the room.

Opinions are divided at school.

The school board had backed the trans woman as recently as September. “Kayla Lemieux is an outstanding teacher,” said chair Margo Shuttleworth. The Toronto Sun had also asked students at the time. Twelfth-grader Owen said, “I’m OK with it. I know some of my friends are a little uncomfortable with it. But I think Ms. Lemieux should be able

to express herself however she wants.”

One mother spoke about Kayla Lemieux in the male form, “He’s going a little too far.

JOBS

FROM PAGE 2

ees will be allowed to attend a town hall meeting on Monday. They will be offered immigration support, as well as the chance to learn more about the company’s plans for the future.

Alphabet’s recent announcement follows a series of cost-cutting moves over the

Standing up for yourself is fine. But to wear something like that in the classroom ... I have concerns.”

past few months. In addition, several companies, including Microsoft, Facebook, and Twitter, have announced job cuts in the last week. With the tech sector already bracing for an economic downturn, these announcements only heighten concerns about the industry’s survival.

Although Google is no stranger to downsizing, its recent announcement is unprecedented. During the digital boom, it added tens of thousands of employees, but now it’s having to make some tough choices as the economy heads into a recession.

A 20-page report from the US Supreme Court marshal’s office has been made public. It’s unclear if the document in question was the leaky draft opinion about abortion, but the report does contain some revelations about court personnel and procedures. However, it fails to address a fundamental question: how did it get from the courthouse to Politico?

The investigation began on May 2, after Politico published a leaked draft opinion. Chief Justice John Roberts asked for an internal investigation and ordered the marshal to launch one. While the document was not formally classified, the marshal could not determine the source, though she found some evidence that some employees had access to sensitive information.

However, one of the most critical questions to the Supreme Court is what went wrong. The leak tainted the Court’s reputation and the integrity of the judiciary. And it could have significant long-term effects on the Supreme Court itself.

The report, written by the former federal judge who serves as the Court’s chief security officer, concludes that “the court’s technology and operations do not meet current standards.” In addition, the report notes that “too many court personnel” have access to sensitive material. This includes clerks, attorneys, and lawyers. Some court staff

also allegedly told their spouses about their votes.

The Court’s decision to keep the investigation in-house indicates that the justices are concerned about their standing. Several clerks have been questioned and asked to swear in affidavits. Many have denied their responsibilities. Others have said they did not know who to turn to. Still, others have said they did not have enough time to do their jobs correctly.

A trove of cell phones belonging to court employees was found during the investigation. Curley’s report also notes that employees have been asked to delete their cell phones. That, too, may have been the source of the leak.

Curley’s report also suggests that a member of the Court’s staff may have leaked the document to Politico. She notes that an employee “may have felt a duty to share the document with the media,” but she says she is not sure who that employee was. If that’s the case, it will make for a great Hollywood blockbuster.

The most obvious thing about leaking the draft opinion is that it reversed a half-century of abortion precedents. And it could be the first step toward overturning Mississippi’s abortion law. But it doesn’t answer the most critical question about the investigation, which is why it was conduct-

ed in the first place.

Although the investigation hasn’t yielded any definitive answers, the results have sparked an interesting conversation. One executive director of the group Takes Back the Court has questioned why the Court hasn’t taken any action in the past on ethics concerns. Another has suggested that it’s time

The Supreme Court’s Investigation Into The Leaked Draft Opinion Leaked To Politico Success - Power – LuciferGod And John D. Rockefeller

to reconsider the Court’s priorities and increase the number of justices.

On the other hand, the report does not include any interviews with sitting jurists. This is a huge omission. The information does mention 97 “personnel” who participated in the investigation, but it doesn’t say whether they were questioned.

Regal Cinemas Is Closing 39 More Movie Theaters

Regal Cinemas is closing 39 more movie theaters across the United States beginning in February. The company has more than 500 locations in the U.S. and is the second-largest movie chain behind AMC Theatres. In recent years, the box office has seen some significant successes, such as “Avatar: Way of Water,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” However, a recent COVID-19 crisis has doubted the company’s future.

Cineworld filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last September and secured about $1.94 billion in bankruptcy loans. It has also begun active negotiations with landlords to keep some of its theaters open. But several theaters are closing, including the Regal Cinema on Court Street in Brooklyn. This theater has been a staple in downtown Brooklyn for over two decades, and some hope the building will reopen.

While the company has plans to save $22 million a year, it is still working to preserve other theaters.

According to its latest financial report, the company will take a $708.3 million loss before taxes in 2021. Its rent will increase by nearly 30 percent by the end of 2022. When the COVID-19 outbreak hit, many of the theaters at the chain were considered underperforming. Eventually, it was decided to abandon its personal property and shut down most of the locations. That is why it has to obtain court approval before it can close its theaters.

The history of money’s success power is an exciting topic. While a lot of the information that can be found on the subject is quite biased, you can still learn a lot about how the world’s wealthiest men got to where they are today. You will discover how some of the most successful men have made their fortunes, who has been most influential, and

how you can take their lessons and apply them to your financial situation.

The history of John D Rockefeller is filled with impressive feats. While they may have made mistakes, they are certainly not the worst in the business world. Likewise, several other influential individuals have

According to the company’s court filing, its plan to reject the leases of 39 movie houses will save $22 million a year. In addition, Cineworld estimated that its program would save the company about two dollars per person per year. Other theaters that may be closed are in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. Despite the loss of these locations, the chain expects to keep its overall number of theaters at 500.

The company has filed to close at least four additional theaters, but those are not expected to happen shortly. If they do, it will be the third time the company has shuttered theaters in six months.

If you are interested in one of the theaters being closed, you will want to act quickly. Several have already begun to run out of movies, and they may have to close down in the next few months. The most popular theaters being closed include the IMAX at Transit Center Stadium 18 in Williamsville and the Great Northern Mall in Denver.

Some of the theaters being closed by the chain are located in major cities, such as Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. However, the company can keep some theaters open by pushing landlords to offer better terms. One theater being pushed out of the chain is the ArcLight chain, which operated the Pacific Theaters in San Francisco. Though it was not immediately clear what the future of the theater was, some people hoped it would be replaced by a newer movie house.

made their mark on our nation.

Aside from his accomplishments, John also had a humble and albeit empty childhood. He spent hours at church praying and reciting holy books. He had an unimpressive personality, lacked boyish joy, and showed no interest in his grades. However, he did have a knack for numbers. He sold a candy bar at a profit. Among other things, John also excelled in the math and human resource departments. For instance, he was able to master the art of making money while still in school. And he had the vision to create a company that was bigger than he was.

By the time he was 20 years old, John had mastered the art of borrowing and repaying the money. At the same time, he could form alliances with insurance companies. John D Rockefeller was the world’s first billionaire. His money helped fund the League of Nations. This organization aimed to create a global government and promote globalization.

John’s business acumen included using legal maneuvers to help his company succeed. Moreover, he was an excellent bookkeeper. As a result, he could loan out vast sums of money at low-interest rates. But, on the other hand, he was not a fan of the flimsy mirror displayed on the television. Hence, he avoided showing his wealth in a vulgar way.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr., a wealthy industrialist, was one of the most influential persons in American politics. Aside from his political career, he was also a businessman. He was instrumental in forming the Federal Reserve System and the League of Nations. In addition, he was also involved in several vital philanthropies. For example, the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission, founded in Washington, D.C., was a landmark in disease prevention. It extended its campaign to 52 countries on six continents.

Rockefeller’s philanthropy financed many studies related to the Council on Foreign Relations. As a result, this group became a quasi-government agency that influenced foreign policy.

Another prominent figure in the Rockefeller organization was Elihu Root. He was secretary of state and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. His goal was to create an “omnicompetent” government.

Rockefeller also financed the development of eight hundred southern high schools with the assistance of the General Education

INSULIN

FROM PAGE 8

In February, Lilly announced that it would stop raising its insulin prices for Humalog. Last year, Lilly also began releasing its first generic insulin.

Meanwhile, the FDA has approved several generic versions of the insulins that it has previously approved. These include insulin glulisine injection, Adlyxin, and Apidra. These products are available to those with

Board (GEB). GEB paid exceptional professors at universities across the South to locate sites for new high schools.

In the early 1900s, blacks in the southern United States had a 50 percent illiteracy rate. Boll-weevil infestations threatened the cotton-dependent South. Rockefeller’s philanthropy helped stamp out boll weevils.

In the early twentieth century, much money was pumped into the Southern education system. The Rockefellers were one of the big players. They were making a significant impact on southern agriculture by boosting the yield of crops and livestock. Interestingly, some of their funds helped to put a dent in the boll weevil infestation. The best part was that the money was going to the right places. Thanks to the generosity of Rockefeller and his consiglieres, many black colleges were now financed with northern funds. This allowed for practical vocational training for blacks.

While the GEB had the best intentions, it didn’t have the resources to make a complete high school system. But he did have a good time doing it.

In the mid-twentieth century, the General Education Board was on the same scale as the Rockefeller philanthropies. And as the name suggests, the board was on the cutting edge of social progress. However, it was a bit of a fad to fund such things as the first college in the country’s southern half, or the University of Alabama, as it was known in the South.

If the philanthropic practices of John D Rockefeller have any relevance to today’s

health insurance or through co-pay assistance programs. People with high deductibles or no insurance are also eligible for discounts.

There have been multiple investigations by state attorneys general into insulin-price hikes. One suit, filed by the state of California, accuses insulin manufacturers of colluding to raise prices.

According to the suit, the average patient pays $900 monthly for insulin. The lawsuit also alleges that the price of insulin has increased by 1.527% since 1997.

Many of the prominent manufacturers have unexpired patents. As a result, their intellectual property rights are protected, even

charitable organizations, it is because they reflected his larger ambitions. He sought to influence the scope of philanthropies and secularize American higher education.

His main concern was to promote scientific knowledge. To this end, he encouraged scientists to work with industrialists and reformers. These partners shared his skepticism about religiously affiliated academic institutions.

The new philanthropy was based on the idea that the ordinary person should invest in the common good. It encouraged giving to national and professional causes. Unlike previous charity efforts, it delocalized the American charitable obligation.

One of the first Rockefeller philanthropies was devoted to medicine. Rockefeller donated money to help pay young doctors in rural areas. This was a big deal in 1910. But his foundation also expanded its southern programs. To combat widespread disease, Rockefeller began a hookworm campaign. He gave the hookworm program a public relations boost by using handbills to distribute to rural households. The program was both practical and cheap.

As a result, the campaign spread to 52 countries on six continents. It was a landmark in epidemiology and preventive medicine.

The public was not impressed. Many people thought Rockefeller was philosophic. Yet he spoke only of the most pressing issues. And he continued to write and teach even as he struggled with cancer.

The resulting controversy spanned more than one hundred schools. Most of them

if their insulin product isn’t selling well. Despite these challenges, they continue to tweak their insulin products to prolong their exclusivity rights.

Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

For decades, big pharmaceutical companies have artificially increased the price of insulin, a lifesaving drug for over 30 million diabetics, by over 600%. It’s unfair — and it’s also illegal. That’s why, this week, we filed a lawsuit against the largest insulin makers in the world — Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi — along with the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit managers for breaking the law and deceiving the public when they

were absorbed by universities. Some were shuttered.

The Flexner Report, published in 1910, was the most devastating indictment of medical education. The report cited many of the most notorious diploma mills.

Self-satisfaction

If you’re a fan of all things sexy and money-related, you might have heard of a young John D Rockefeller. He was so popular that he was considered America’s second most powerful person. However, his tumultuous life wasn’t all good and evil.

Despite his plethora of flaws, he did find a way to make a buck in the business of putting other people’s money to good use. Aside from his numerous bouts with the law, he forged a friendship with a fellow swashbuckler, George W Gardner. After a few years as an aide to the gent, the pair hit the jackpot when they partnered up and founded the world’s most valuable company. Standard Oil Company, Inc., the company, was founded in 1863 by Rockefeller and Henry Flagler and was incorporated in 1870.

Having a knack for numbers and an eye for a bargain, he turned to the economy’s legal and illegal gambling sectors before settling on a life of leisure. He even had a stroke of luck when he won a lottery - and the ensuing financial success didn’t end there. The resulting tycoon was one of the biggest ol’ boys in town. John is a self-declared financial guru with a net worth of more than a billion dollars. (Today, about 365 Billion Dollars) But, on the flip side, he’s also a slob with a penchant for picking up women at a clip.

aggressively hiked the cost of the lifesaving drug.

The lawsuit states that the insulin market in the United States is an oligopoly. It cites that the three leading manufacturers control almost 90 percent of the world’s supply of insulin. This control has allowed the six companies in the industry to systematically raise the list price of their insulin products.

Approximately 34 million people are living with diabetes in the United States. About a third of them report having difficulty meeting their household expenses. Meanwhile, an estimated 1.5 million remain diagnosed annually.

Sodom and Gomorrah?

lon that offers massages. Other types of sexually oriented businesses would include adult motion picture arcades, adult bookstores, and strip clubs. In addition, businesses where adults are allowed to engage in sex and other sexual activities in a rented public or private space for less than 24 hours, will now be legal.

While operating a brothel in Palm Springs is not entirely legal, it is illegal to solicit clients. However, many legally operating establishments serve as fronts for prostitution.

In the city’s most recent survey, sex-related crimes were relatively low. However, there is still a significant problem with syphilis. There are also high HIV/AIDS rates in Riverside County.

The city also proposed a measure allowing sex-related businesses along Interstate 10. Previously, these were only allowed in two areas. However, this would expand to two more commercial areas, one on Palm Canyon Drive and the other on I-10.

While the law does not make it mandatory, the ordinance does specify that businesses must have a permit to operate. Currently, the city requires companies to close from 2 am to 6 am and have staff who can see the indoor public spaces. The new rule also added that adult-themed merchandise or behavior could not be visible from residential areas.

The City of Palm Springs is allowing an increase in sexually oriented businesses. These may include adult bookstores, hotels, and clubs. However, they would need to adhere to a set of strict guidelines. This includes maintaining 650 feet of separation from residential areas and 500 feet from schools and religious facilities. In addition, they must file a security plan and have cameras monitoring their

exterior

The city has proposed an ordinance that will define these sex-oriented businesses. Under the current law, such businesses are limited to a few pockets. Some permitted locations are Palm Springs International Airport and the Desert Highlands Gateway Estates neighborhood.

One such location is Palm Canyon Drive, near Sunny Dunes Road. A more

significant measure of this proposed law is that the distance requirement for protected uses could be increased. It also increases the threshold to 300 square feet of selling space.

The new ordinance will define an adult business as any place that provides sexually oriented products or services. The best example of an adult business would be a spa, massage parlor, or sa-

Despite these requirements, the city claims it does not have a Red-Light District.

But the city council delayed its vote on the proposal to ease public nudity restrictions, particularly on nipple exposure by women. Discussions were made over “gender neutrality” and the possible criminalization of public breastfeeding for women.

The Oldest Person In The World Is Dead

Sister André died Tuesday night in a Toulon (France) retirement home. André was 118 years and 340 days old and has been the oldest person in the world since April 2022. The native of France fell asleep peacefully, said David Tavella, spokesman for the retirement home. Next: “There is great sadness, but she wanted it; it was her wish to get to her beloved brother. So for them, it is a liberation.”

André was born Lucile Randon on February 11, 1904, in Alès, southern France. Her family was Protestant but not very religious. It wasn’t until she was 19 that Randon discovered her enthusiasm for the faith and was baptized a Roman Catholic. Years later, she joined the Order of the Vincentians and became a nun. André worked in a hospital in Vichy for three decades, caring for orphans and the elderly.

That the pious sister should reach a biblical age herself was not a matter of course. She experienced World War

I (1914-1918) as a child and the Spanish flu outbreak as a teenager. She also survived the Second World War, whose gruesome fighting claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in France alone.

André was considered warm-hearted and humorous. However, when French journalists asked her about the secret of her long life on her 115th birthday, the nun replied mischievously: “God doesn’t want me.” André was confined to a wheelchair in the last years of her life, and she also had hearing problems and was blind.

André was considered the oldest person in the world since Japanese Kane Tanaka died in April at the age of 119. Unbelievable: The profoundly religious nun had survived a corona infection shortly before her 117th birthday.

At 122 years and 164 days, Jeanne Louise Calment held the world record for the longest verifiable lifespan. The French lived from 1875 to 1997.

Sister André would have turned 119 in February. She died in a home in Toulon. This photo was taken in 2021

before taking that Facebook quiz General Anticipates Invasion Of Taiwan

US TROOPS TO PREPARE FOR WAR WITH CHINA

The signs point to war with China for U.S. Air Force General Michael Minihan.

In a memorandum, the senior military official calculates that the People’s Republic could invade Taiwan as early as 2025 - and that the U.S. will fight on the side of the democratic island nation. So Minihan ordered the 107,000 men and women under his command Friday to prepare for war.

“I hope I’m wrong. However, I feel that we will fight in 2025,” Minihan wrote in the memorandum, first reported by “ABC News.” He heads the Air Mobility Command, which is responsible for aerial refueling, among other things.

Social media is a fun distraction for some people, and taking a Facebook quiz may seem harmless to pass the time. But are you giving away more information than you think?

How the scam works: A fun quiz pops up on your Facebook or another social media platform. For example, a few questions are answered to prove how well you know a friend. Or a short personality test is offered to match with a character from a favorite TV show. These quizzes appear to be meaningless, but the intent behind them is to collect information. For example, questions like: “What was the first car you owned?”

“What is your mother’s maiden name?” or “What is the name of the street you grew up on?” These are standard security questions for insurance, banking, and credit

card accounts. Unfortunately, sharing this information can lead to hacked accounts and stolen personal and financial information.

Not all social media quizzes are data collection scams; however, BBB cautions users to be careful about what they share online and check the account’s privacy settings. Social media data and quiz answers can be used to steal identity or enable a scammer to impersonate you to your friends and family.

Tips to avoid social media scams:

• Be skeptical: Before answering a quiz, figure out who created it. Is it a brand you trust? Just because something appears fun and innocent doesn’t mean there isn’t an inherent risk.

• Adjust privacy settings: Review the social media account’s privacy set-

tings, be strict about any information that is shared, and be mindful of who you share it with.

• Remove personal details from your profile: Don’t share information like a phone number or home address on social media accounts.

• Don’t give answers to common security questions: Be cautious if the questions in a quiz ask for things like your mother’s maiden name, the street you grew up on, previously owned vehicles, favorite foods, or the name of your high school.

• Monitor friend requests. Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know. Also, be wary of a second friend request from someone you are already connected with; the second profile may be an imposter trying to access your data and friends list. Source: https://www.bbb.org/

Queen The Greatest Live - Episode 2: “Rehearsals - Part 2”

Continuing this brand-new series of Queen, The Greatest Live – we see first-hand how Queen’s dedication to rehearsing played a crucial role in what is regarded as one of the most outstanding performances in music history.

The second episode of this new series, Queen The Greatest Live, a yearlong celebration of Queen on stage, once again explores the importance the band put on rehearsals, revisiting one of the band’s most iconic performances - their 1985, 17-minute set at Live Aid, which continues to be hailed as one of the greatest live moments in music history.

As one of the only bands to put serious time into rehearsing to get the maximum out of the short set time, it’s proof that preparation is critical. Fortunately, cameras were allowed to get a quick glimpse of those historic rehearsals in progress.

Cutting between rarely seen rehearsal footage and the band’s live performances of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Hammer To Fall,” and “Radio Ga Ga,” the episode presents in close-up the casually clad Freddie, Roger, John, and Brian (those shorts!) warming up for what would become their global jukebox tri -

umph, and one of the greatest rock and roll performances of all time, despite Brian recently telling Total Guitar magazine he initially left the stage nervous that the set was one of the band’s weaker performances.

“We didn’t go there to [steal the show]. We went there to do our bit… I didn’t think when we came off that it was our best performance or anything like that.” He credits Freddie Mercury’s confidence during the performance as why Queen was seen as having ‘stolen the show.’

The four-star general’s logic: China’s dictator Xi Jinping, 69, secured his third term at the party’s October 2022 congress and appointed a war council. Next year’s presidential election in Taiwan will likely give him an excuse to invade. The U.S. also holds presidential elections in November 2024 - the government in Washington would then be distracted for months.

The U.S. Department of Defense immediately contradicted Minihan: “These comments are not representative of the Department’s view of China,” the Pentagon said.

However, many Western observers agree that war with China is almost set in stone. The only question is when, beliefs the U.S. intelligence agency CIA, for example. Philip Davidson, ex-commander of the U.S. fleet in the Indo-Pacific, considers an invasion by 2027 to be realistic - a view shared by officials in Robert Habeck’s (53, Green Party) Ministry of Economics.

Shortly after his re-election, China’s dictator Xi gave the order to comprehensively strengthen the training and operational readiness of the soldiers. The army should prepare for ANY war, he said in Beijing.

U.S. President Joe Biden, 80, promised Taiwan to let American soldiers fight the People’s Liberation Army in a TV interview in September. However, scholars at the Center for International and Strategic Studies in Washington predict China would lose the war.

Why is China targeting Taiwan in the first place?

For decades, the Chinese regime has viewed the island nation as a renegade province. After Mao Tse Tung (1893-1976) defeated the Nationalists led by Chiang Kaishek (1887-1975) in the Chinese Civil War, Chiang fled to the Chinese island of Formosa to continue the Republic of China (Taiwan’s official name), which was founded in 1912. Taiwan has been an independent state since 1949 but has never declared independence and is now recognized by only a few nations. Yet it was considered the successor to the empire until the 1970s.

Jeremy Renner Saved His Nephew’s Life!

“The Avengers” star Jeremy Renner (52) is recovering from his horror accident on New Year’s Day. Unfortunately, it will still take a long time before he fully recovers - with more than 30 broken bones, severe bleeding, and other injuries, he was in mortal danger.

That what happened: all these injuries Renner contracted because he saved his nephew’s life!

That’s according to the police report obtained by CNN.

The New Year’s Day accident happened when Renner was using his snowplow to free a car from high snow. The car belonged to his adult nephew. After clearing the snow, the actor got out of the snowplow - and the machine, which weighs tons, suddenly rolled away. According to the police report, Renner had forgotten to pull the handbrake.

Then came the horror: the report says the snowplow began to slide sideways off the hill. “Once he was off the snowcat, he noticed it was heading straight for [his nephew].” Renner reacted immediately, “He feared the snowcat would hit [his nephew], so he decided to try to stop or redirect it.”

Renner tried to get back into the driver’s cab. Instead, Renner had to climb onto the vehicle’s moving track - he was “immediately pulled under the left chain,” the report says. With dramatic consequences. The snowplow, which weighed several tons, ran over the 52-year-old father of a daughter (9).

Renner’s nephew provided first aid until the ambulance arrived, and relatives called 911. The actor was flown to the nearest hospital.

A friend of the action hero told “ Radar Online” a few days ago, “The right side of Jeremy’s chest was crushed, and his upper body collapsed. He also had a bleeding head wound and a leg injury.” He said Renner “almost bled out” and “almost died” while waiting for help. “It’s much worse than anyone knows!”

REALLY HEROIC! MARVEL STAR SURVIVES HORROR ACCIDENT

The friend continued, “Jeremy is aware that he almost died out there.”

His nephew, however, is doing well, thanks to him!

Renner has recovered enough to leave the hospital and is recovering at home. On Twitter, he addressed words of thanks to his many supporters, saying, “I want to thank everyone for their messages and thoughtfulness. Much love and thanks to all of you.”

The biggest thanks probably go to himself - for his selfless efforts.

Not only a hero on the big screen: action star Jeremy Renner barely survived the accident with the snow plow

Hollywood star Jeremy Renner loves big machines and owns several snowplows of different sizes on his property at Lake Tahoe in the US state of Nevada

Author Letty Cottin Pogrebin Speaks On Her Latest Book

By Pamela Price

The heavy burden of family secrets was the incentive for Letti Cottin Pogrebin’ co-founder of Ms. Magazine’s recent book, ‘Shanda A Memoir of Shame and Secrecy’ which brought her to Rancho Mirage on January 16th as the guest speaker for an event planned by the Jewish Federation of the Desert. The author discussed her

QUEEN

FROM PAGE 14

“The adrenaline flowing in Freddie was pretty magnificent,” Brian said.“Freddie, when you watch him now, he looks so full of confidence. And he is … He knows that he can get the audience on his side, even though nobody had bought tickets to see us. We weren’t on the bill when people bought all those tickets. So that was a step into the unknown. But I don’t think Freddie ever had any doubts.”

A view shared by Roger Taylor: “From the word go, he (Freddie) came out of the traps like a champion. I remember looking up and seeing the whole place going completely bonkers in unison and thinking, ‘Oh, this is going well.’”

The triumph of that performance has since been enjoyed by generations too young to have witnessed that original historic achievement by the band, faithfully recreating the scale of the record-breaking event in the band’s 2018 cinema blockbuster, Bohemian Rhapsody.

book, speaking to 100 guests on January 16. The morning event was planned by the Jewish Federation of the Desert. Shanda, the book’s title, is defined as a disgracer’ in Yiddish. The author reveals the backstory of “ three generations of 20th-century Jews for whom the desire to ‘ fit in’ amidst the fear of how public humiliation either drove their aspirations of

or crushed their spirit”. Long-time suppressed secrets, secret lives, cover-ups, marital mysteries, and embarrassing illnesses are all part of the author’s revealing memories. When MS Magazine debuted in 1970, the role of American women and elsewhere was ignited, and Ms. Pogrebin’s future was also launched. Gloria Steinem, the founder of Ms magazine’s

40th Anniversary issue ( Fall 2012 ), featured Wonder Woman on the cover in the Fall 2012 edition.

Phyllis Eisenberg attending the event, said, “Letty Cottin Pogrebin is an exemplary ‘wonder woman .’After fifty years, she continues to impact men and women with her insightful books, common sense, and historical reflections.”

Photograph by Neal Preston / Courtesy Queen Productions Ltd.

Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Live Aid, July 13, 1985

Photo by Pat Krause

Phyllis Eisenberg, author-Lottie Cotten Pogrebins and CFO Jewish Federation- Alberto Tejero

Photo by Pat Krause Arnie Gilman, Jackie Cotten, Alan Potash, and Fran Kauffman

Thousands Of Jehovah’s Witnesses Among The Millions Of Nazism Victims

On January 27, the world will mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day,1 a symbolic date to commemorate the victims of Nazism. Murderous Nazi terror targeted millions because of biology, nationality, or political ideology. But few people know that the Nazis’ victims included thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who suffered for their Christian faith.

Jehovah’s Witnesses, also then known as Bible Students, were “the only group in the Third Reich to be persecuted based on their religious beliefs alone,” says Professor Robert Gerwarth.2 The Nazi regime branded Witnesses “enemies of the State,” according to historian Christine King, because of “their very public refusal to accept even the smallest elements of [Nazism], which didn’t fit their faith and their beliefs.”

On religious grounds, the politically neutral Witnesses refused to give the “Heil Hitler” salute, participate in racist and violent acts, or join the German army. Moreover, “in their literature, they publicly identified the evils of the regime, including what was happening to the Jews,” stated King.4

Witnesses were among the first sent to concentration camps, where they bore a unique uniform symbol—the purple triangle. More than one-third of about 35,000 Witnesses in Nazi-occupied Europe suffered direct persecution. Most were arrested and imprisoned. Hundreds of their children were taken to Nazi homes or reformatories. About 4,200 Witnesses went to Nazi concentration camps. Leading authority Detlef Garbe wrote: “The declared intention of the NS [Nazi] rulers was to completely eliminate the Bible Students from German history.”5 An esti-

mated 1,600 Witnesses died, 370 by execution.6

The Nazis sought to break the Witnesses’ religious convictions by offering them freedom in exchange for a pledge of obedience. The standard Erklärung (issued beginning in 1938) required the signee to renounce his or her faith, denounce other Witnesses to the police, fully submit to the Nazi government, and defend the “Fatherland” with a weapon in hand. Prison and camp officials often used torture and privation to induce Witnesses to sign. Accord-

ing to Garbe, “extremely low numbers” of Witnesses recanted their faith.7

Geneviève de Gaulle, a niece of General Charles de Gaulle and member of the French Resistance, said of female Witness prisoners in Ravensbrück concentration camp: “What I admired a lot in them was that they could have left at any time just by signing a renunciation of their faith Ultimately, these women, who appeared to be so weak and worn out, were stronger than the SS, who had power and all the means at their disposal. They had their strength,

and it was their willpower that no one could beat.”

The failure of Nazi coercion in the case of Jehovah’s Witnesses contrasts with widespread societal conformity to Nazi aims before and during the Holocaust. The nonviolent resistance of ordinary people to racism, extreme nationalism, and violence merit thoughtful reflection on this International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

More information about Jehovah’s Witnesses during the Holocaust can be found on jw.org

Morongo to Host Blitz Football Viewing Party

Fans can enjoy tailgate-style party food, collect memorabilia and win prizes while watching pro football’s top teams battle it on six big screens.

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa – Pro football fans are invited to watch the league’s top teams compete for the 2023 world championship during the annual Morongo Big Game Blitz viewing party on Sunday, Feb. 12.

Fans will witness the exciting matchup televised live from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on six massive high-definition screens assembled across the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa’s Grand Ballroom, all while enjoying tailgate-style food, meeting former NFL players and Morongo’s cheerleaders, and vying for a chance to win free NFL memorabilia.

“The big game deserves a big party, and Morongo is calling an audible to hike up the fun for football fans watching the year’s biggest sporting contest,” said Simon Farmer, Morongo’s Executive Director of Marketing. “Grab your friends and join us for the ultimate viewing party with delicious food,

drinks, and freebies! So which team will you be rooting for?”

The party kicks off at 2:00 pm on Sunday, Feb. 12, ahead of the 3:30 pm game. The Big Game Blitz will also feature raffles, a swag bag, a souvenir photo, and an exclusive chance to win free slots during our popular Bingo game. The event is open to those 18 and over. Tickets are $60 and are available through Ticketmaster. Hotel Packages are

also available, offering two tickets to the Big Game Blitz, free slot play, and a one-night stay for $229.

Along with the viewing party, Morongo will be offering several gaming and dining specials during the Big Game, including: Big Game Blow Out: For every touchdown, turnover, QB sack, or field goal, Morongo Rewards members on the casino floor will have a chance to win up to $500 cash

and a shot at $10,000 Big Game Bonus Hotseats.

Wahlburgers: Enjoy $4 draft Wahlbreswkis and $1 off draft beers at all bars throughout the casino during the game.

Good Times Cafe: For $20.99, guests can enjoy our delicious hatch chile cheese dip with chips and chicharrones.

Fiesta Taco: For $11.99, Fiesta Taco will offer loaded nachos supreme that includes tortilla chips, cheese sauce, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, and a choice of meat.

Pit Stop: Enjoy jalapeño pepper poppers for $8.99 or a smash burger for $10.99.

Sideline Bar: Those looking for an alternative to the Big Game Blitz viewing party can visit the Sideline Bar, where KROQ radio host Beer Mug will host a viewing party on Morongo’s 30-foot video wall giveaway prizes at the end of each quarter, including Bear Mountain Lift Tickets.

Casino Morongo Poker: The Big Game Splash kicks off at 3:30 pm on Feb. 12 with $50 for every field goal, $100 for every touchdown, and $200 for every safety.

Photo courtesy of jw.org

A purple triangle was used by the Nazis as an identification badge for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nazi Germany concentration camps.